New Delhi: India’s main opposition party, the Congress, announced on Friday that Rahul Gandhi, the party’s prominent figure and former president, will be contesting the upcoming general elections from the familial stronghold of Raebareli in northern India. This strategic move underscores the party’s determination to confront the political dominance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The decision holds significant symbolism, reflecting both the party’s and the Gandhi family’s resolve to engage with the BJP’s political machinery. Additionally, it serves as a morale booster for party members, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, a crucial state where the Congress has faced formidable challenges from the BJP and regional factions. Uttar Pradesh, being India’s most populous state, holds immense electoral significance, as winning a substantial number of seats here is pivotal for any party aspiring to secure national power.
The general elections commenced on April 19 and will unfold over seven phases until June 1, with the final vote count scheduled for June 4.
Congress has a storied history in Indian politics, having governed the country for 54 out of its 76 years since gaining independence from Britain. Notably, members of the Nehru-Gandhi family have held the prime ministerial office for over 37 of those 54 years.
Raebareli and its adjacent constituency, Amethi, have remained strongholds of the Gandhi family for decades, consistently electing generations of Gandhis or their close relatives since the 1950s.
Also Read | Security Heightened in Manipur on Anniversary of Ethnic Strife
However, despite its historical significance, the Congress party has faced challenges in recent years, experiencing electoral setbacks since its defeat by Modi’s BJP in 2014. The party has been endeavoring to rejuvenate itself in the face of stiff opposition.
In the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi’s mother, Sonia Gandhi, secured victory from Raebareli, marking the only seat won by Congress out of the 80 in Uttar Pradesh. In a surprising turn of events, Rahul Gandhi himself faced defeat in Amethi, losing to BJP minister Smriti Irani. Subsequently, he entered parliament by winning from Wayanad, a constituency in the southern state of Kerala, a move he has replicated in the current elections. Rahul is once again contesting from Wayanad, which held its elections on April 26.
This year, Sonia Gandhi opted out of contesting from Raebareli and instead secured a seat in the upper house of parliament through indirect elections.
Earlier speculations suggested that Sonia’s daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, aged 52, might make her electoral debut by contesting from Raebareli, while Rahul Gandhi, aged 53, would focus on Amethi. It’s worth noting that Indian electoral regulations permit candidates to contest from multiple seats, though they can only retain one in the event of multiple victories.
